Should I just save up for this?

[75lespaul]

http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php5?id=154&prod=GrandMeister 36

At the moment, my search for a backup amp just shot WAY past the Crate Stealths and Carvin X100b/XV112s of the world. This won't be released here until early next year, which would give me time to sell everything I'd need to sell to buy this and the pedal and get some new tubes in case the stock tubes suck. The dream here is that I'd get killer tones, all sorts of programmable patches with basically all the effects I'd need, save for a wah/volume, and I wouldn't even have to lug around a cabinet. I'd bring my Tonelab LE as a backup, and I could go to gigs in my little Saab, lol. Lots of crappy demos on Youtube, but I found three that I liked and it sounds like a killer amp that can do sweet cleans, classic rock type crunch, Mesa type distortion, and even more if needed. Between this amp and my Duncan pickups I might even sound like a real guitarist. Too good to be true? I like what I'm seeing and hearing. I also love the way you can choose how many watts you want to use, like my AD60VTX. Anyone in Europe actually play or hear one of these live? I believe it is in stores now overseas. Of course like any new amp, I'll go hear it before I buy it. Thanks bros.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

Usually if you have to ask, the answer is yes.

"Cry once, buy once".

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

No. Save up for a Triamp MK II because no other Hughes and Kettner amp sounds as good.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

If the GrandMeister gets your tubes glowing, you might also consider the TubeMeister-36. It has a lot of the same features you are drooling over in the GM, but is available now.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

If the GrandMeister gets your tubes glowing, you might also consider the TubeMeister-36. It has a lot of the same features you are drooling over in the GM, but is available now.

Thought about that, but I can wait until the GrandMeister is released. I'd hate to buy the TubeMeister, then regret it later.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

I've decided I'm buying only Hughes & Kettner amps from now on. Those, and Fender Blues Deluxes.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

No. Save up for a Triamp MK II because no other Hughes and Kettner amp sounds as good.

Wow...just checked one out. Unbelievable amp, but too much amp for me, both watts and more importantly, money. Three grand. Yowza. The closest I'm getting to a Triamp is the old Triamp 4x12 I have.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

Wow...just checked one out. Unbelievable amp, but too much amp for me, both watts and more importantly, money. Three grand. Yowza. The closest I'm getting to a Triamp is the old Triamp 4x12 I have.

Man don't give up hope. First of all, it has a fantastic master volume and a 50w switch, so you can get a lot of use out of it at home. I have seen plenty of great deals on them in mint condition. You don't need to have any reservations buying them used because they are built for a lifetime of use. Let me tell you the clean channel is absolutely immaculate, and the gain channels are out of this world man. One is very Marshally the other gain channel is in the Mesa Boogie vein. It's actually 3 separate amps., hence the name "Tri-Amp." Play one and you will see what I mean. This is just my opinion, but though the Tubemeister and Grandmeister are awesome amps, they're made in China and have EL84 power sections. They will always be midget versions of the Triamp in my mind.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

Without reading anything - yes.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

If the GrandMeister gets your tubes glowing, you might also consider the TubeMeister-36. It has a lot of the same features you are drooling over in the GM, but is available now.

This is actually becoming more of a consideration after seeing what I thought was a great vid for the TM36. I could use my Tonelab as the midi controller/effects pedal, and my backup to the board if the amp craps out, and would cost waaay less than the Grandmeister and pedal. Or, for the three hundred or so more, I could just get the Grandmeister and use the Vox for the controller instead of buying the pedal. Any purchase is way off still, but I'm wondering if the Tubemeister would serve my purposes as well as the Grandmeister.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

way too digital for me, Im not into all those effects being within the amp

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

way too digital for me, Im not into all those effects being within the amp

I'm good with it, as long as the sound is there. Plus, it is supposed to have a completely re-engineered preamp, so it is really the tone of the amp and the ability to store presets that I like. If the effects don't do it, I can always use the ones in my Vox, which I like a lot. If the effects in the amp sound great, then cool! I'll compare the Tubemeister and the Grandmeister together when they come out. I'm so pumped over this amp, it may be hard to live up to my expectations, lol.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

No, you should not save up for it because it claims to be all-analog but has a digital spring reverb.

Really, my opinion don't matter. Save up for what you want. Just saying, I wouldn't, based on that glaring problem.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

Actually, the little TM 18 head is an all around good home amp, and you could pick one up used now that they've been out for awhile. That one is useful because it excels at bedroom level and is utilizing the power section gain at stage volume.

You may find the Grandmeister to be overkill in both features and volume.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

It's nice that it has a bunch of EL34s to drive some speakers.

But kinda pricey for a tube preamp and some programmable effects. And a Red Box costs what? I have one floating around, is it any good? Looks like a $50 item if that.

A beaten up Mesa power amp and an Axe-FX might be better.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

It's nice that it has a bunch of EL34s to drive some speakers.

But kinda pricey for a tube preamp and some programmable effects. And a Red Box costs what? I have one floating around, is it any good? Looks like a $50 item if that.

A beaten up Mesa power amp and an Axe-FX might be better.

Actually, its not even EL34s, its 84s. You don't even get the big brother tube, just the little brother.

Actually, the little TM 18 head is an all around good home amp, and you could pick one up used now that they've been out for awhile. That one is useful because it excels at bedroom level and is utilizing the power section gain at stage volume.

You may find the Grandmeister to be overkill in both features and volume.

I've seen that, and one of the things that got me stoked about this new one is the tones JeffB got from his 18. This amp has the ability to use 36, 18, 5, 1 and no watts so I can cut the power when needed. I definitely see your point about overkill, but I'm kind of in the mood for some overkill for a change, lol. Life's been too boring. They put out something shiny and flashy and I got hooked. But again, no matter how shiny, if I don't think it is worth the money for what I hear and see, I will not buy it. I very much appreciate the opinions you are all giving me. They really do mean something to me, and will keep me in check when I finally test one of these out.

Especially you, GJ. I may just hold off until you can find me one for two hundred bucks and sell it to me out of the goodness of your heart for twice that, lol.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

Uh... How is it exactly that all these seemingly serious adults are going gaga over an amp that doesn't even exist yet?? Made of unobtainium?

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

Uh... How is it exactly that all these seemingly serious adults are going gaga over an amp that doesn't even exist yet?? Made of unobtainium?

It was released in Europe in September. Here in January. It is not a unicorn. But how cool would it be if it was????? By the way, I'm pretty un-serious, so if my posts led you to believe I'm a serious guy, I apologize. I'm basically a clown. But the good kind of clown.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

It was released in Europe in September. Here in January. It is not a unicorn. But how cool would it be if it was????? By the way, I'm pretty un-serious, so if my posts led you to believe I'm a serious guy, I apologize. I'm basically a clown.

How would you know if you were.

So is the Red Box thing any good as far as speaker sims are concerned?

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Should I just save up for this?

How would you know if you were.

So is the Red Box thing any good as far as speaker sims are concerned?

I've been called a clown in so many different ways, lol. Classclown, assclown, was actually a clown at a kids party once...once.

You know, I've only heard clips and the best one I heard was from a fellow in a studio who used the Tubemeister 5. Sounded like a miked 4x12 to me. Lots of clips of guys in their own home studio, but it sounded a bit thin on those. Of course the professional demos sound fantastic, but they're supposed to, so... I have to wonder if some of the home recordings were done by people who didn't mess with the red box and recording equipment enough. Maybe they just plugged and played? I don't even know if the amp itself had "red box" settings, or if you just get what comes out of the jack. On the Grandmeister it has something like a "classic" and "modern" button. I know the Red Box is always being touted by H&K as "the" direct box. I wish I knew somebody who had one.